Wire-stretcher.



L. KASPRZYK WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9. 1916.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

{SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. KASPRZYK.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1916.

1 294,27? Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LEON KASPRZYK, OF KOSCIUSKO, TEXAS.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7,1916.

Application filed March 9, 1916. Serial No. 83,106.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LnoN Kxsrnzrx, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kosciusko, in the county of Vilson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wire stretchers, and aims primarily to provide a device of simple and inexpensive construction which is capable of being easily and quickly attached to a fence post, and by the use of which the wire or other material of similar nature employed in the construction of the fence may be efiectively tightened and held while the staples are being applied to secure the wire to the post.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for the purposes set forth which may be applied to fence posts of various diameters and shapes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character setforth capable of being applied to the corner post of a fence without danger or liability of the stretcher slipping upon the post, as is common with wire stretchers now generally used.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character set forth which may be easily applied to a fence post and operated by a single person, the device further providing means whereby the wire being stretched will be automatically held tight while the operator is applying the staples for securing the same rigid to the post.

The invention has for a still further object to provide means whereby the wire being stretched will at all times be drawn in close proximity to the fence post, thereby obviating the necessity of applying lateral movement or pressure to the wire before applying the staples or wire retaining tacks.

Vith these objects in View, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangements of parts all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of a wire stretching device constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being shown as ap plied to a post, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device illustrated in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the device, Fig. 4.- is a side elevation of the wire stretcher, the view illustrating the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the improved grip member employed in carrying out the invention.

The invention comprehends broadly a frame or support of such construction as to be capable of application to the ordinary fence post, means being provided whereby the said support may be adjusted to posts of various diameters and shapes, and a wire drawing mechanism arranged upon the frame or support for applying the necessary drawing power to the wire. This wire drawing mechanism is preferably so arranged upon the support as to draw the wire in close proximity to the post to which it is desired to attach the .same, and means is also provided in-conne ction with the wire drawing means for holding the same securely against retrograde or backward movement while the wire is being secured by staples or other similar devices to the fence post. The frame or support is also preferably so constructed or arranged as to permit of the same being applied to a post to assume various angles, so as to enable the device to be efliciently employed upon a corner post of the fence.

More particularly, the improved wire stretching device comprises a frame 6 constructed of light substantial metal,-being provided with a pair of rearwardly extend ing spaced parallel bars 7 the same being connected together at their free ends in any suitable manner, such, for instance, as by a bolt 8. A drum or spool 9 is mounted upon a suitable axle 10 for rotation between the bars 7, a suitable projection or pin 11 being arranged preferably midway between the opposite end of the said drum to afford means by which a wire 12 of the fence may be attached. A hand lever 18 may be arranged upon one of the projecting ends of the axle 10 in order that the drum may be conveniently rotated. As a means for holding the drum against retrograde movement, the opposite end of the axle 10 may have rigidly secured thereto a tooth or ratchet Wheel 14, which may be engaged by suitable paWls-15. The pawls 15 are so pivoted upon the bar 7 as to. operate with the ratchet wheel at diametrically opposite points.

Arranged to extend forwardly from the frame 6, and preferably at a point therein midway between the rearwardly extending bars 7 is a pair of spaced arms 16, the said arms extending preferably from the upper and lower ends of the frame 6. Each of the arms 16 is provided at its extremity with an inturned lug or projection 17, within which is mounted for rotation a roller or guide wheel 18; the said roller on each of the projections being so located that its periphery will be in alinement with the periphery of the drum or spool 9, and at a point midway between the ends of the latter. This enables the wire 12 to be drawn in perfect alinement transversely of a post.

Arranged upon the frame 6 to extend laterally beyond one side thereof is a pair of spaced arms 19, the said arms being arranged preferably to project from the upper and lower ends of the said frame, and may be connected at their extreme ends by a member 20. Teeth 21 may be arranged upon the forward faces of the arms 19 for the purpose of biting into a fence post when the device is applied.

A grip member 22 is employed to assist in securing the above described support or frame to a post, and this member is adapted to be adjustably secured at one end to the forwardly-projecting arms 16. To this end the outer faces of the arms 16 are provided with ratchet teeth 23, behind which lugs 24 arranged upon the adjacent end of the grip member 22 may engage. The opposite end of the grip member 22 is provided with an opening 25, through which a bolt 26 is arranged to extend, the said bolt being of a length sufficient to project beyond the laterally extending arms 19, an open ended slot 27 being arranged in the member 20 for the reception of the threaded end of the bolt 26. A wing nut 28 may be threaded upon the extremity of the bolt 26 to engage against the member 20, and it is apparent that when the said nut is tightened, the grip member will be drawn inwardly to secure the frame or support upon the post inclosed between the grip member and the arms 19. Teeth 29 may be provided upon the inner face of the grip member 22 to engage with the post to prevent the frame from sliding around the same. The grip member above described may be of any preferred shape or construction, however I preferably construct the same in substantially V-shape as indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Obviously, by the feature of adjusting the grip member 22 at one end upon the forwardly projecting arms 16, and at the opposite end by means of the screw bolt 26, the device may be made to fit and snugly engage posts of various diameters and shapes, and the teeth 2129 arranged on the adjacent faces of the arms 19 and the member 22 respectively prevent sliding movement of the frame with relation to the post to which it is attached.

By the arrangement of the drum 9 and the guide rollers 18, it is apparent that the device may be used for stretching wire upon a post in a position inverted from that shown in the drawings, as would be necessary should it be desired to stretch the fence wire upon the opposite side of the post, and for this reason pawls are arranged for engagement with the ratchet wheel 14 at diametrically opposite points. It is apparent that upon rotation of the drum 9, the pawl 15 will operate upon the ratchet 14: to prevent reverse movement thereof, this construction affording efficient means for holding the wire in stretched position while staples are applied to secure the same to the post. It is also to be observed that the arrangement enables the wire to be drawn in close proximity to the post to obviate the necessity of lateral movement of the wire when stretched to apply the retaining staples.

While in the present instance I have illustrated and described my invention in, what appears to me to be its most practical form, it is to be understood that I do not necessarily limit myself to the construction set forth, but reserve the right to make various alterations or changes in the minor details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim.

1. In a device of the class described, a frame having a pair of spaced parallel bars, a drum mounted for rotation between said bars, a pair of forwardly projecting parallel arms secured to said frame intermediate said bars, a guide roller mounted on each of said arms remote from said drum with their peripheries in alinement with said drum at diametrically opposite points, means for rotating said drum, and means for securing said frame to a post, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame having a pair of spaced forwardly and laterally projecting arms, ratchet teeth on said forwardly projecting arms, a member connecting the extremities of said laterally projecting arms, a grip member, a pair of projections arranged in spaced relation upon said grip member at one end for engagement with the ratchet teeth on said forwardly projecting arms, a screw bolt connected to the opposite end of said grip member and extending at its free end adjacent said member, the said member being provided with a slot open at one end for the reception of said bolt end, and a nut for engagement over said bolt end, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, a-

frame, a pair of spaced parallel bars projecting rearwardly from said frame, a drum mounted for rotation between said bars and at a point midway between the lateral edges thereof, a pair of spaced arms secured to project forwardly from said frame at a point midway between said bars, a roller secured to the extreme end of each of said arms, the said rollers having their peripheries in the same plane with that of diametrically opposite points on said drum, a ratchet connec- Copies of this patent may be obtained for tion between said drum and said frame, means for rotating said drum, and means for securing said frame upon a post, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEON KASPRZYK.

WVitnesses ANDREW DRzYuALA, JOHN T. DWORACZYK.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

